Born in Chestertown, Maryland, James Peale is best known as a portrait miniaturist and still-life painter, but he also made oil portraits, history paintings, and landscapes. Peale worked in Philadelphia from 1779 until his death. He executed more than two hundred miniatures on ivory before giving up the practice due to failing eyesight around 1818. James learned to paint through his older brother Charles, and served as his studio assistant early in his career. In 1786 the brothers agreed to divide their portrait business, with James generally painting miniatures and Charles, oil portraits. He typically dated and signed his works: “I P.”